Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-02-12

lho leSulJ VI bne lnDeTNleW was pafIlaily
successful-and no more. Lord Rotherfield
declined to see his youngest son; and he had
engagements which would under any cir.
cumstances, prevent his being present at the
garden party. But, at heexTress request OF
Lady Rotherfeld, ne was willing to make
certain concessions.
81 have always regarded Alfred as barely
sane person. shid his lordship, ''since he
turned his back on his prospects to become 9
horse dealer If we decline altogether tc
sanction this rev act-I won't say of insan.
ity, l will say of absurdity-on his part, it is
impossible to predict to what discreditable
extremities he may not proceed. We must
temporize with Alfred. In the meantime
shall endeavor to obtain some information
respecting this young person-named Miller
think you said, and now resident at South
Morden. II l am satisfied that she is
woman of reputable character, possess.
ing an average education and presentable
manners we may as well let Alfred take his
own way. He is out of the pale of society
as it is; and Miss Miller has no father and
mother to complicate matters, which is dis.
tinctly merit on her part-and, in short
if the marriage is not absolutely disgraceful
the wisest way las we have no power to pre-
vtnt it) will be to submit. You will say
nothing to Alfred about what l propose &c
do. tell you plainly don't trust him. You
will simply inform him from me that want
time to consider, and that, unless he hears to
the contrary in the interval he may expect
to have the sanction of your presence at his
breakfast, or luncheon, or whatever it is.
must go to town in day or two, and shall
ascertain what Alfred's friends know abou'
this last of his many follies, if meet any oil
them at the club"
Returning to South Morden in no serene
frame of mind, Hardyman found Isabel in 9
$ ate Of depression which perplexed and
alarmed him.
The news that his mother might be ex.
pacted to be present at the garden party
failed to raise her spirits The only explain.
alton she gave of the change in her was that
the dull heavy weather of the last few days
made her feel a little languid and nervous.
Naturally dissatisfied with this reply to his
inquiries, Hardyman asked for Miss Pink
He was informed that Miss Pink could moi
see him. She was constitutionally subject tc
asthma, and having warnings of return Of
the malady, she was (by the doctors advice)
keeping her room. Hardyman returned to
the farm in a temper which was felt by
everybody in his employment, from the
Il amer to the stableboys.
While the apology made for Miss Pink
stated no more than the plain truth it must
be confessed that Hardyman was right in de
clining to be satisfied with Isabel's excuse fol-
the melancholy that oppressed her. She had
= IL A.
lines which she had addressed to him at the
end of her aunt's letter, and she had not yet
recovered from the effect which it had pro-
duced on her spirits,
ut is impossible for me to say honestly
that ] am not distressed" Moody wrote) "by
the news of your marriage engagement. The
blow has fallen very heavily on me. When
| look at the future now see only dreary
blank. This is not your fault; you are in nc
way to blame. remember the time when
should have been too angry to own this
when might have said or done things which
/ should have bitterly repented afterward.
That time is past My temper has been
softened since have befriended you in your
troubles. That good at least has come out
of my foolish hopes, and perhaps also out of
the true sympathy which have felt for you.
/ can honestly ask you to accept my hearts
dearest wishes for your happiness, and ] can
keep the rest to myself. r~
"Let me say q word now relating to the
efforts that have shade to help you since
that sad day when you left Lady Lydiard's
house.
II had hoped for reasons which 1t is need
less to mention here) to interest Mr.. Hardy
man himself in aiding our inquiry. But
your aunt's wishes, as expressed in her letter
to me, close my lips. / will only ask you, at
some convenient time, to let me mention the
last discoveries that we have made, leaving
it to your discretion, when Mr.. Hardyman
has become your husband, to ask him the
questions which, under other circumstances,
] should have put to him myself.
lit is of course, possible that the view
take of Err Hardyman's capacity to help us
may be mistaken one. In this case, if you
still wish the Investigation to be privately
carried on, beg of you to let me continue
to direct it. as the greatest favor you can
confer on your devoted old friend.
You need be under no apprehension
about the expense to which you are likely to
put me. have unexpectedly inherited what
Is to me a handsome fortune.
THE same post which brought your aunt's
letter brought line frora lawyer, asking
me to see him on the subject of my late
fathers affairs. l waited a day or two be-
fore could summon heart enough to see
him, or to zee any body, and then went to
bank STOPPED payment, at time of com
mercial panic. His failure was mainly at
tributed to the treachery Of friend TO whom
he had lent large sum of money, and who
paid him the yearly interest without &C
knowledging that every farthing of 1t had
been lost In unsuccessful Speculations The
son of this man has prospered in business,
and he has honorably devoted a part Of his
wealth to the payment Of his fathers credit
ors. Half the sum due nay father has thus
passed into my hands as his next Of kin, and
the other half TO follow in course Of time. II
my hopes had been fulfilled, how gladly
should have shared my prosperity with you
As il Is, I have far more than enough for my
wants as a lonely man, and plenty left tC
spend in your service.
God bless and prosper you, my dear
shall ask you to accept little present from
me, among the other offerings that ar,
made to yea before the wedding day.
zh.aH1ctv hR M"
The studiously considerate and delicat
tone IN which these lines were written hat
an effect ON Isabel which was exactly tn
opposite Of the effect intended by the vri er
She burst into . passionate &c Of tears, and il
the safe solitude OF her ownroom the despair
ing words escaped her, al wish had die,
before met with Alfred Hardvmanln
As the days wore on, disappointments an
| difficulties seemed by kind of fatality, .
be>et the contemplated announcement Of th
marriage